A trade fair with a very different layout, many foreign exhibitors and visitors and modern interaction between marble, technology and design.

There will be 267 exhibitors, with 44 foreigners from 18 countries participating at Carrara Marmotec 2012 which is due to be held from 23 to 26 May over an area of 33,000 square metres. The completely new layout has been designed with a view to optimising the visitor’s experience.
As is tradition, Marmotec promises to be a highly specialised trade fair in terms of the exhibitor profiles and their countries of origin.

46% of exhibitors will be exhibiting stones, marble, granite, travertine and other natural stones while 28% will be showing quarrying, processing and transport machinery and technology, 22% accessories, abrasives and tools for stone processing and 4% specialised services for the industry.
The countries with the highest number of representatives will be Brazil and Portugal while Tuscany is the region with the highest number of companies, accounting for a good 44% of the total.

“Carrara Marmotec 2012 is designed both as a highly specialised natural stone and technology trade fair and as an event combining business with culture and design in a new modern format – said Giorgio Bianchini, the CarraraFiere Chairman when presenting the 2012 fair to the press together with Paris Mazzanti, the General Manager – It will not be only a complete showcase of marble, granite, stone, technology and services but a much wider event involving the entire Apuo-Versilian marble district and the town of Carrara in particular”.

Despite the difficult situation concerning the world economy, Carrara Marmotec still manages to keep its appeal in the industry which in 2011 recorded national exports of over four million tons of marble, granite, travertine and other natural stone (both as raw materials and chips and powders) for a total value of over 1.6 billion Euros, showing a 4.2% increase in value compared to the previous year.
Companies are showing their confidence in the industry’s ability to react to the difficulties caused by the crisis underway in the construction market. This crisis is, however, expected to continue throughout 2012 due to an unfavourable macroeconomic framework while from 2013 growth is expected to be higher than the GNP, although will not return to pre-recession figures.
According to a Euroconstruct survey in February 2012, the turnover for the Eurozone construction market recorded a 12.9% overall contraction on February 2011 and significant contractions in certain individual countries such as Italy (-23%) and Germany (-21.4%).

Carrara Marmotec 2012 is still the reference event for the industry where materials will be on show from all the national districts: from Apuan marble to Roman travertine, from Sardinian marble and granite to stone and marble from Puglia and stone from Sicily. Of great significance too is the participation of foreign producers including important companies from Brazil, Portugal, Egypt, Iran, France, Turkey, Palestine, South Africa, Mexico and Pakistan.

“We have worked towards presenting a complete trade fair in terms of materials, technology and services which is strengthened thanks to the very solid relationship we have with companies as well as architects, engineers and designers – Paris Mazzanti emphasised– so on 23rd May we shall be opening an event that will attract all professional visitors who in addition to the usual technical and scientific information will also be looking for culture and a close bond with the surrounding territory with its high profile companies”.

Carrara Marmotec 2012 is therefore a complete trade fair and a very true reflection of the industry. An important role is played by companies specialised in the manufacturing of quarrying and processing machinery yet significant innovation is also to be seen in the area of lifting and transport with new vehicles which are the result of years of study and research.
There are many new products from companies working in stone processing technology as well as those manufacturing tools and abrasives too.
We are expecting individual visitors and trade groups from all over the world including organised groups from the Lebanon, Morocco, Algeria,  Tunisia, Palestine, Turkey, China, Taiwan,  the Czech Republic and Jordan as well as groups of architects from Europe, the Americas and the Middle East organised in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce of Massa Carrara.

To ensure a modern use and optimise the visiting time the exhibition centre has undergone significant renovation. Hall B for example has been totally restyled to host the major International stone companies and their products.

As per tradition Carrara Marmotec will also be an opportunity to deal with current technical and trade issues with workshops, conferences and meetings. ome will be held in the rooms at the exhibition centre, others are to take place in locations around Carrara’s old town where Carrara Marble Weeks.

In view of its promotional value, Carrara Marmotec, promoted by the Internazionale Marmi e Macchine Carrara and organised by Carrara Fiere, is sponsored by the Ministry for Economic Development, the Tuscan Regional Government, Toscana Promozione, Massa Carrara Provincial Administration and Chamber of Commerce, the Councils of Carrara and of Massa. Its sole bank sponsor is Carrara Savings Bank (CARIGE group) and it is supported by ADI (the Association for Industrial Design), AIPI (the Italian association for Interior Designers) and the Association of Industrialists of Massa Carrara.